COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-32/73 Battery Strap Installation 7/85
Applicability: All models PA-32-301T with S/Nos 32-8024001 to 32-8424002. Requirement: Piper SB No 804.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 July 1985 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after 31 July 1985 whichever is the later.
Background: The manufacturer reports instances of the battery becoming dislodged from the battery box due to overloads imposed in severe turbulence or in a crash sequence.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, incorporate the legislative instrument F2006B05869, which pertains to Part 39 - 105, addressing the Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series Aeroplanes. This regulation, specifically AD/PA-32/73, was introduced to tackle the issue of batteries becoming dislodged from the battery box due to overloads, as reported by the manufacturer, particularly under severe turbulence or during a crash sequence. The enactment of this directive by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority aims to ensure compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No 804, mandating that the battery strap installation requirement be met within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1985, or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after that date, whichever is later. This legislative instrument was enacted to enhance the safety and reliability of the specified aircraft models, thereby protecting both the occupants and the aircraft from potential hazards during flight.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all models of the Piper PA-32-301T aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 32-8024001 to 32-8424002, ensuring their continued airworthiness in accordance with the provisions set out in the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This regulation mandates compliance with Piper Service Bulletin No 804, which pertains to the installation of a battery strap to prevent the battery from becoming dislodged from its box, a condition that has occurred due to overloads in severe turbulence or during a crash sequence. The directive requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1985 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after the specified date, whichever is later. The scope of this legislation is confined to the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that the specified models of the Piper PA-32 aeroplanes meet the required safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, contains the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) that are binding under Australian law. Specifically, AD/PA-32/73 addresses the installation of battery straps on Piper PA-32 (Cherokee Six) Series aeroplanes, specifically the PA-32-301T models with serial numbers ranging from 32-8024001 to 32-8424002 (section 7/85). This directive requires compliance with Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No 804. The requirement is that the battery strap installation must be completed within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1985, or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue following 31 July 1985, whichever comes later.
The AD imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Aircraft operators must ensure that the battery strap installation specified in Piper SB No 804 is carried out within the prescribed timeframe. This means that if the aeroplane has not yet accumulated 100 hours of flight time after 31 July 1985, the installation must be performed before the next scheduled maintenance inspection. This requirement is crucial to address the safety concern identified by the manufacturer, which reported instances of the battery becoming dislodged from the battery box due to overloads in severe turbulence or during a crash sequence.
Failure to comply with AD/PA-32/73 can result in serious consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not specify a particular penalty for non-compliance with airworthiness directives, CASA can take enforcement actions against non-compliant aircraft operators. These actions may include grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved, imposing fines, or even pursuing criminal charges in cases where non-compliance results in an accident or serious safety incident. The seriousness of these potential outcomes underscores the importance of adhering to the AD to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.